"There's been some really good planned burning done over the last couple of years to the east and the west of where we've got this fire, so we're actually able to tie it in further to those planned burns," he said.

"We're fairly confident in the next few hours we'll actually get some containment lines all the way round it and we will be able to call it contained."

The fire has burnt across the Esso pipeline easement carrying gas from Bass Strait.

Firefighters says the underground pipeline is safe but they had to protect gas valves.

Mr Taylor says crews want to control the fire soon because high winds are forecast.

"Apparently we've got a severe weather warning out for damaging winds for later this afternoon and evening, so our priority at the moment is to get this thing wrapped up as soon as we can and get it tucked in before the big winds come tonight."

A motorist called Ray says he was surrounded by the fire when it crossed Loch Sport Road.

"It was furious, there were flames leaping everywhere and it had whipped up a bit of a wind of course with the flames creating a vacuum and other air rushing in to take its place as the fire gains momentum," he said.